Lung Cancer Alliance Urges HHS to Include Lung Cancer Screening Services for Those At Risk as a Covered Benefit within State Health Care Exchanges

Washington, DC [January 31, 2012]—Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requesting that lung cancer screening services for those at risk be covered as an essential health benefit within the preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management category of the State Health Care Exchanges.

This category is one of 10, which were established by the recently enacted Affordable Care Act. LCA raised strong concerns that the new scientific validation of lung cancer screening should not be denied inclusion in these plans just because the timing of this breakthrough research and the process for government’s review of the public health screening rating does not align with HHS’s timing of the development of these regulations.

As HHS Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, retains broad authority under the Affordable Care Act in making determinations about what services will be covered, LCA asked that the enormous lifesaving benefit of lung cancer screening for at risk populations be included.